Email: Mattienealstudio@gmail.com
About me:
My name is Mattie Ree Neal and I'm 21 years old. I have dreamed of being an artist for as long as I can remember.
I have been blessed to grow up around artists like my father, Michael Shane Neal, as well as his mentor and close friend, Everett Raymond Kinstler, "Uncle Everett" to me. I have always been inspired by their passion and enamored with their devotion, skill, and success.
My favorite place to be is my dad's studio, where I am always welcome. I spend as much time there as I can working at the drafting table or an easel near his. As I have gotten older, I discovered the work of other artists like Joaquin Sorolla, Anders Zorn, Dean Cornwell, Cecelia Beaux, Philip DeLaszlo, and of course, John Singer Sargent. Their ability to convey a story or express the character of their subjects so fluently captivates me.
Studying with my father and Uncle Everett, reading dozens of art books, drawing and painting from life, and visiting museums have been my greatest source of inspiration and growth. As I fill my sketchbooks with observations of the world around me, I fall farther and farther in love with being an artist.
I am excited to pursue my art into the future and currently studying directly with artists by traveling for workshops, classes, and to visit museums.
Awards:
Art Renewal Center Salon
2020
-two pieces chosen as finalists in the Da Vinci Initiative category
-Da Vinci Initiative category Honorable Mention
Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition:
2020
-one piece chosen as a finalist in the the non-commissioned portrait category
Congressional Art Competition:
2020
-5th district grand prize
- Piece hangs in the United States Capitol for one year
2019
-5th district best in Junior class and grand prize
- Piece hangs in the United States Capitol for one year
2017
-5th district best in Freshman class
Lipscomb Academy 2020 Fine Arts Student of The Year
Lipscomb Academy Evening with the Arts:
2013-2019
-Awarded 4 grand prizes and 2 first place prizes
Scholastic Art Competition:
2020
-Awarded 1 Silver key, 2 Gold Keys, and an American Visions Nomination
2019
-Awarded 3 Silver keys
2017
-Awarded 1 Silver key
Press:
"Creating New Paths for the Future Generation" International Artist, February/March 2021
"A rare honor: Nashville dad and teen daughter both have art displayed in U.S. Capitol" Tennessean, July 2019
"21 Under 31" Southwest Art Magazine, August/September 2021
Bio:
Mattie Ree Neal is a native Nashvillian and attended Lipscomb Academy from K-12th grade where she was chosen as Fine Arts Student of the Year in 2020. Following her graduation from high school that same year, and driven to be an artist, she embarked on an internship with her father, artist Michael Shane Neal. Having spent most of her life in his studio and in the studio of his mentor, Everett Raymond Kinstler, Mattie Ree is devoted to continuing her artistic journey through study of history, great museums, travel, and study directly with living master artists around the world. She recently established a studio on the grounds of her home where she paints, studies and teaches art to children and adults alike. Mattie has also taught with Drawing New York in Manhattan.
Mattie received the 2020 Scholastic American Visions Award for Painting with a ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York. She also won the 2019 and 2020 Congressional Art Competitions for the 5th District of Tennessee. Her winning painting was on display for two years at the U. S. Capitol. Also in 2020, Mattie received an honorable mention in the Art Renewal Center Salon, a finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s Members Only Competition, and was featured in International Artist Magazine in an article entitled “Creating New Paths for the Future Generation”. She was also featured in the Tennessean newspaper in an article entitled “A Rare honor: Nashville dad and teen daughter both have art in US Capitol”. Mattie Ree has successfully completed many portrait commissions and has most recently been included in the Select 50 in the 2023 Portrait Society of America International Competition. Her piece was juried into the top 100 of 3,075 entries. Mattie is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the Salmagundi Club. She is living in New York part time and has a piece in the collection of The Players Club of New York. Last fall Mattie was chosen by the MET Museum's copyist program to take part in a 9 week study where she painted in the gallery from Sargent's Wyndham Sisters. Mattie Ree plans to continue to pursue her passion for art and is dedicated to growing and making painting and drawing her life’s career.
